Have California Democrats made it legal for minors to engage in prostitution? The truth still stands: They have.

Two weeks ago, I published an op-ed exposing this misguided new law, and people across the country have responded with outrage over this destructive liberal social experiment. It also triggered a backlash of denial from Democratic politicians, progressive activists and so-called media “fact-checkers.” Even the O.C. Register editorial page jumped on the bandwagon. As readers can see, the deniers have it wrong.

Here’s the language of Senate Bill 1322, which became state law on January 1:

“Existing law makes it a crime to solicit or engage in any act of prostitution. Existing law makes it a crime to loiter in any public place with the intent to commit prostitution. This bill would make the above provisions inapplicable to a child under 18 years of age who is alleged to have engaged in conduct that would, if committed by an adult, violate the above provisions.”

Until a few days ago, it was against the law in California for a minor to solicit or engage in prostitution. Now, it’s not. Anyone claiming otherwise is fooling themselves.

The California Democrats who supported SB1322 may have intended to help minors trapped in prostitution, but they fail to grasp the negative unintended consequences of an intrinsically flawed law that treats the justice system as the problem while enabling destructive behavior. They’re compounding that error with a disinformation campaign to conceal the stark reality of their new law.

SB1322’s supporters point out that it is still illegal for the purchasers, the “johns,” to have sex with an underage prostitute. Of course, that is true – and entirely beside the point. Depraved individuals seeking to pay for sex with minors will still be breaking the law. But SB1322 removes a critical obstacle by making one side of that transaction legal and places vulnerable children in greater danger.

Minors enmeshed in prostitution are victims who need our help to escape a tragic, degrading life. Logical solutions would include increasing penalties for johns and pimps, intensifying law enforcement activity and bolstering rehabilitative services. Instead, SB1322 empowers pimps and predators to expand their exploitation. Ask yourself which is more valuable to a pimp: a prostitute who can be arrested or one who can’t? Who do underage prostitutes fear more: the police or their pimps? Pimps will now instruct minor prostitutes to simply walk away from police. Cops can only send their information to county social services agencies or take them into temporary custody in cases of imminent physical danger. Even then, these exploited minors are free to walk out the door and back onto the streets the next day.

Removing underage prostitutes from the juvenile delinquency court’s jurisdiction deprives law enforcement of indispensable tools for keeping juvenile prostitutes off the street, in rehabilitation and away from their pimps’ control. The California juvenile delinquency system’s purpose is rehabilitation over punishment, which is why juvenile records are usually sealed for most crimes, including prostitution.

SB1322 is not just wrong, it is immoral. There’s no love or compassion in making it legal for children to sell themselves for sex. I wrote my op-ed as an ordinary Californian expressing outrage over a misguided law that will harm those it’s intended to help. I felt more needed to be said. Now more needs to be done. I am drafting legislation to repeal SB1322 and give back to law enforcement and our justice system these vital tools for combating child prostitution. Don’t be fooled by desperate spin from Democratic politicians and their media enablers. I encourage every Californian, regardless of political affiliation, to join me in protecting California’s youth from this terrible law.

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